Trapped within walls (1)

"I always wanted a pet, but my father wouldn't allow it. He always said I could only get one if I finally shifted. Everyone around me learned to connect with their wolf, but I am still like this. At least I am not alone. You are pathetic too," Freya said, watching Ophelia, who sat on the floor.

The rope was still tied around Ophelia's hands, showing that her title of Luna meant nothing.

"I wonder how the kingdom would feel knowing we now have a luna as pathetic as you. What will you do during the moon festivals when everyone else is showing off their wolf? Are you going to look as pitiful as you do now?" Freya tugged on the rope, pulling Ophelia forward. "Answer me."

Ophelia didn't know what to say in response to Freya's question. She already looked pitiful. Why did she need to say it out loud too?

"Enough," Joel said, freeing Ophelia's hands from the rope. "They'll be here soon. Be on your best behaviour. Both of you," he added, looking at Ophelia.

"I did the best I could with the time I had. She's a worthless peasant, so you must take what you get, father," Freya said.

"It doesn't matter. They know her as my bastard so she won't be well-trained. They will be fooled as long as you keep your mouth shut," Joel instructed Ophelia.

Ophelia had no reason to speak unless spoken to, which shouldn't be very often.

"Only do what I told you to. Keep him happy if you can, and don't piss him off—"

"How many times are you going to repeat this, dear?" Giselle Porter, Joel's wife, asked as she joined the group by the front door. "How much longer before you send her out of our home? I can't show my face now since I have to listen to others questioning me about this," she pointed at Ophelia.

Why did the plan have to include Joel having a lover who gave him another child? It was embarrassing to lie about helping raise the child in secret. It was also suspicious how much this woman resembled Freya.

"You took this low-born girl and made her queen," Giselle said, frustrated that Freya had missed this chance. Who wouldn't want their daughter to be Luna? "Your son isn't going to be happy with this."

"Both of you leave now. They are here," Joel said, spotting the carriage sent for Ophelia.

Freya was quick to leave. She didn't want to see Ophelia off in the alpha's carriage. While she should have been pleased that Ophelia was being sent to her death, it made her angry to think of how Ophelia might be pampered in the palace though she was a fake. 

Ophelia rubbed her hands where the rope had been. Fortunately, after the healer dealt with the bruise from the kick to her side, he also healed her hands, and Freya had not been too rough since then.

Ophelia couldn't believe she was relieved to be heading to the palace. She had heard rumours about the alpha yet the Porters were the ones who concerned her.

"Wait," Joel grabbed Ophelia's arm, stopping her from going alone. "Your maids need to go with you."

Ophelia looked to her right at the two maids standing with bags in their hands. She now remembered that she was going to be watched and this would be one of the ways.

"Aren't you going to kiss your father goodbye? Are you in that much of a hurry to see your husband?" Joel's voice was sweet and gentle as if he were happily sending his daughter off to her husband, and it sent shivers down Ophelia's spine. How could he change his demeanour so effortlessly?

Ophelia forced a smile, trying to appear as natural as possible though she was anything but comfortable. "I will miss you, Father," she said, kissing his cheek.

Her smile did not last long so she turned around to leave, leading the maids to the carriage. She attempted to greet one of the men standing by the carriage, but he ignored her, walking around her to start gathering her bags.

This little interaction gave Ophelia insight into what her life in the castle would be like. She wouldn't be treated like other lunas.

Ophelia took a deep breath and stepped into the carriage, followed closely by the maids. Their eyes were glued to her as if they were waiting for her to make a mistake.

She tried not to pay them any mind, focusing instead on how Alex was doing. Was he still alive?

The ride to the castle, the alpha's domain, was long and silent. Rumours had said it was fit for an alpha, and now, Ophelia would see if it was true.

After hours of silence, Ophelia turned to the maids.

"What are your names?" she asked, attempting small talk.

Only one of the maids acknowledged her, saying, "You are only to speak when spoken to. I don't recall either one of us speaking to you."

Ophelia lost any interest in speaking to the maids. She already knew they would cause trouble. If she ever wanted a chance to escape, she needed to lose these two.

Ophelia's nerves grew as the castle came into view. A dark cloud hovered above it like a bad omen for her time here.

Ophelia exited the carriage without any assistance. The maids didn't offer a helping hand nor did the guards she travelled with. She felt like an empty shell of a Luna.

Her husband wasn't anywhere in sight and while it might upset others, Ophelia was relieved he was not here. The last she saw him was during their first night when he marked her and she was not ready to face him.

"Queen Ophelia," a castle servant, greeted Ophelia.

Ophelia stared back at the older woman who was judging her from head to two, most likely trying to make sense of the Luna.

"The alpha had to lead others to take care of trouble near the border so in the meantime, I will show you to your chamber," said Edith, the castle head maid. 

"Thank you. I am most," Ophelia started but soon stopped as her greeting fell on deaf ears.

Her greeting was ignored as the maid turned around to lead the way inside.

'Being ignored is better than tortured,' Ophelia thought, thinking nothing of the cold shoulder. 

Anything was better than what the Porters did.